A study published by the Lion Foundation which extols the benefits of funding community projects with gambling money is course work produced by a group of Massey commerce students.

A former big Lotto winner says the man who won $33 million at the weekend will need good advice because the win will be overpowering.

Mayor Len Brown is trying to rewrite history over his support for the SkyCity pokies-convention centre deal, says mayoral challenger John Minto.

Approval for smoking in SkyCity's high-roller lounge may be stubbed out after it was challenged in the High Court.

Last night's $33-million Lotto jackpot has earned one lucky ticket holder a fortune, while $22.6 million remains unclaimed from last week's Big Wednesday jackpot.

Five numbers - plus the crucial Powerball number four - was all it took for one person to take home last night's must-win $33 million jackpot.

Gaming trusts would be forced to return more pokie machine profits to sports teams and community groups under proposed gambling reforms.

Kiwi punters have jumped ship and are backing Oracle to win the America's Cup.

Lotto Powerball has jackpotted again, meaning this week's draw will match the $27million mark struck by supermarket worker Trevor Cooper in April last year.

More Asian people will lose their jobs and businesses if the SkyCity convention centre deal goes ahead, MPs have been told.

The Government's convention centre deal with SkyCity could see the taxpayer saddled with millions in cost overruns before building even begins, claims Labour.

A former international sportsman who won multiple world championships for NZ, David stole nearly half a million dollars from his employer to fund his gambling addiction.

A combination of tighter regulation and a growing public unease about the negative social impact of gaming machines has sent the industry into a steady decline.

We're a nation of brilliant rugby players. Champion yachties. World-beating stone throwers. but we wouldn't be any of that without being a nation of gamblers.

"Since I've stopped I've never had so much money in my pocket. The freezer is full. The pantry is full of food. I bake and I give it away. Things do come right."

'It's like you've farted really badly in the room." An expert who's studied the impact of using gambling proceeds in communities says raising the issue's not appreciated.

In a little over nine months Xiao Lu and her former boyfriend Zhou Zhao defrauded Hamilton's SkyCity casino of more than $50,000 .

Once a blip on the national sports scene, baseball has grown its player base to about 6000. And its emergence has been funded entirely with gambling money.

Alicia sobs as she recalls the moment she realised her life had to change. She was spending up to 20 hours a week at the pokies, losing between $300 and $400.

"If Basketball NZ didn't receive TAB income I shudder to think." Basketball has become the country's betting sport of choice, with $46.8m wagered last year.

Sport in NZ is propped up by around $180 million in gambling revenue, creating a cycle of dependency health experts have likened to big tobacco sponsorship.

The Mt Wellington Warriors league club made a stand against pokie money. But when it couldn't raise revenue, it faced a stark reality - take the trust money or go bust.

The All Blacks head to Australia tomorrow as heavy favourites with the TAB for a weekend win over the Wallabies despite losing star playmaker Dan Carter.

The profits and boom in visitor numbers from SkyCity's proposed convention centre have already been built into Auckland Council's accounts.

Approval for a VIP smoking area at Auckland's SkyCity casino has prompted a High Court challenge over testing methods.

First, it was stud poker. Like Texas Hold 'em but with nine cards, more face-down, fewer face-up, so the chance of killer hands was pretty high.